The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-03
BIRNIN0HAM.

ningham make that city q problem
worthy Of more than passing thought.
For twenty years. after they were first
made known, the riches that surround |
It lay almost untouched, Maj. Tom
Peterp, one Of the frat to bring II into |
notice, and whose faith In Its future
was ca large as the resources by which |
1t lives and 10 10 grow, struggled In |
vain for years to bring these riches
within the comprehension OF intelli.
gent and enterprising men, but he
died just as his struggles we're about
to be rewarded by a result tseming
with py0as. He had q few faithful
iriends. who saw as he saw and be-
loved 40 be believed. and who linked
some little Of their fortune with
his. They survived to speak
their confidence and trust In him
and 70 regret that, like Moses,
he died In sight Of the promised
land. The Birmingham he left is
not the Birmingham OF today. The
difference Is very great, but great ss II
Is II Ia merely an approximate Of what
he pictured Of what IL must one day
DO. Yet, II 10 q study, problem.
Lying thore In sight Of the nation,
the mineral wealth Of Jefferson county
waited for time and circumstance, for
ripper year before IL was drawn upon
as the resource and foundation OF the
| youngest city Of the southland one
Of the most promising. There was
needed growth Of public conviction
and the faith OF capital before the
push and rush and excitement OF the
boom could attract the men who were
10 avail themselves Of the ripeness Of
time and circumstance and turn into
gold the coal and iron that lay for 80
many ages waiting for busy hands
and shrewd directing minds. Blr.
mingham, the result OF this boom, ID
one Of the problems OF our time into
which there enters as opposing ele.
ments human energy and intelligence
q vast store Of wealth, the hindrapce
Of too calculating anticipation and
the disappointments OF q too far in.
land location for the distribution oil
mineral products mp TO their highest
rate Of prof! and a rapidly as an
ever qulckoniDg development would
facilitate.
II would be unfair and unjust II
connne any consideration Of Birmins
ham TO the city limits merely. Thes,
are comparatively narrow, and are In
closed In space given mp mainly u
the ordinary routine business Of On
active and thriving though small pop
ulation. There Il one furnace and
. few manufactures within these
limits. All the other large enterprises
are beyond them, some Of them IN any
miles. But they belong 10 II and are
part Of II, and In any estimate Of Id
position or condition or future must bs
taken into account. The city itself
though much Wanted, Is Of the leas
value by comparison with the minera
interests that have made II possible
What trade II has IL due 10 the dsvel
opment Of the coal and iron mine,
near 10 II. The surrounding country
from an agricultural point Of view oil
most valuelcee, would not Of itsel
make q city nor support one. II coul,
not support even q struggling hamlet
Iron and coal have made II, and as II
iron and coal interests are developer
II will grow and expand. But thi
growth will DO slower In the future
A chief reason for this is the IL d ate,
prices at which real estate Ia held
These operate asa deterrent raths
/ than . stimulant to settlement Their
10 nothing to justify them. In tn
I radius Of twelve or iourtee
miles which encircle the unto
railroad depot, the heart Of the city
there Ia room and verge enough" 70
millions Of people, the anticipation
Of centuries Of growth. EKIsordinI
/. ~ a. ha, been its progress, u In n
. sense compares with that which hs
/. made Chicago the marvel Of the age .
!. any time In liz growth, and II Ia q
. much dis,aneed by the moro recen
; growth Of 81. Paul and Minneapoli,
J. aud by that Of Kansas City. A resso
!. tor this is 10 be found In the fact this
4 10 Ii separated from the great strear
I Of population that Ia ever pourln
I. west between the lakes and the Ohio
4 Chicago 10 one Of the stations throus
|. which this never ending colum
. passes. aud st. Paul. N inneapolis is on
, Of its terminal or distributing point
D There arc here and thsre detection
D Of part OF this stream, one Of whio
. has reached Kansas City. but Il vii
I not In lie entire volume be defscte
, South until the West 10 filled mp an
I all the now vacant government land
} are occupied. The South can max
, no bid for this population that voul
!. DO an adequate recompense for lie loo
! Of the Tree homes offered TO the settler
I by the government. II 10 population
{ u 10 hardy, industrious, intellisen,
, and snierprisins mechanics and farm
! sp that have made these csnters 20,
} sible, that have grown from the mos
, primitive conditions TO greatness In
} f,w years. The conditions Of growil
: tina, are found In 81. Paul, Minneapc
lie or Kansas City are oonsplcuousl
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